Surprising Sources for Fighting Antibiotic Resistance | Juan Martinez | TEDxLSU

What happens when bacterial infections stop responding to traditional antibiotic treatments? That scenario might sound like the plot of a blockbuster movie, but it is also the question pathobiological researcher Juan Martinez is trying to answer. His lab is focused on finding alternative treatment options...some of which may already be in your medicine cabinet. Juan Martinez cares about bacteria, laying the scientific groundwork to tackle the persistent problem of bacteria that cause diseases that are unable to be treated with traditional medications. As part of the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine’s Department of Pathobiological Sciences, Juan’s lab is focused on finding alternatives to antibiotics to combat certain classes of disease-causing bacteria. Born and raised in Chicago’s predominantly Mexican immigrant neighborhood La Villita, Juan’s fascination with the inner workings of things drew him to the field of science. Juan earned a Ph.D. in Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, and spent four years as a post-doctoral research scholar at the Institut Pasteur in Paris, France. His work has covered a wide range of biomedical research, including an investigation of tick-borne diseases funded by the National Institutes of Health and National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx